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Chapter 16: Classmates
Chapter 16: Classmates
After parting ways with Sheng Hai, Chen Chuan was looking for his classmates when he suddenly heard a loud shout from behind, "Chen Chuan!"
The voice was so loud that students several dozen meters away turned to look.
He turned around and saw a tall, robust-looking guy running towards him. It was his middle school classmate and close friend, Ding Jiao, casually dressed in a blue-green tracksuit with the zipper open.
Ding Jiao put his arm around Chen Chuan's shoulder and laughed, "I knew you'd come early!"
Chen Chuan suddenly said, "Your zipper's open." Ding Jiao was startled and looked down.
Chen Chuan, expressionless, clarified, "I was talking about your clothes." Ding Jiao made a sound of acknowledgment and, with a playful gesture, patted Chen Chuan's neck.
At that moment, Ding Jiao's expression changed to one of surprise. He stepped back a few paces and gestured with his hand towards the top of Chen Chuan's head, "Wow, after not seeing you for a month, brother, you've grown quite a bit. In a couple of months, we'll have to compare again. I can't let you get ahead of me."
Chen Chuan smiled and asked, "How have things been lately?"
Ding Jiao nonchalantly replied, "You know me; it's been the same old thing. I've been helping my dad with those two-wheeled vehicles all day, and even when we eat, we smell of motor oil. It's interesting, and sometimes we can go out for a ride, but it's just the same old routine. I can already imagine myself turning into my dad in twenty years, but at least there's money to be made, so it's not all bad. By the way, don't just talk about me; what about you?"
Chen Chuan said, "I've found a place to go, but it's a bit challenging to settle in. I'll probably have to spend the next few months working on it. I'll tell you once things are confirmed."
Ding Jiao, aware that Chen Chuan's uncle worked for the Patrol Bureau, guessed that Chen Chuan might be trying to find a way to get there. He patted Chen Chuan on the shoulder and said, "It's not easy to talk about this, but Chen Chuan has a cousin, so I understand. Remember, if you need anything, just ask your brother. I'll help if I can."
Chen Chuan nodded and, after glancing around, asked, "Did you see anyone from our class when you arrived?"
Ding Jiao replied, "I know, let's go. Our classmates are over there..." He gestured towards the exit, and as he started to walk, he tried to bring Chen Chuan along, but his foot slipped, almost causing him to fall.
Chen Chuan caught him and calmly said, "Be careful." Recently, he had been practicing with Lu Ke to prevent falls, and controlling his center of gravity had become almost instinctual. When Ding Jiao pulled him, he naturally reacted with a counter.
Ding Jiao didn't think much of it and said, "It's not that I'm weak; these bricks are too slippery. Let's go."
The two made their way towards their assigned area for their class. After a few minutes, they found a covered shelter to the east with two rows of desks. One row was arranged along the edge of the platform, and the other was separated by a path wide enough for three people to walk through.
This area could accommodate around sixty people, and their class had only thirty-nine students, so there was plenty of space.
When Chen Chuan and Ding Jiao entered, several classmates who had arrived earlier greeted them warmly.
After not seeing each other for over a month, the students were enthusiastic, discussing post-graduation matters. However, the conversation quickly shifted to other classmates, focusing on a few who had found excellent opportunities after graduation. These classmates were not only envied but also admired by the others.
Chen Chuan and these classmates usually had a neutral relationship, neither particularly close nor distant, as they each had their own social circles. After a brief chat, they all sat down separately.
As they had arrived early, there were plenty of empty seats, so Chen Chuan and Ding Jiao chose a spot near the platform edge with a good view.
Ding Jiao sat down, picked up a bottle of Sha Zhen soda from the table, shook it vigorously, expertly opened it, and poured the bubbling soda into two cups for himself and Chen Chuan. He eagerly took a sip, burped, and exclaimed, "Refreshing!"
Chen Chuan also took a sip, which reminded him of a carbonated drink from his previous life, but with a cleaner taste. He said, "Will everyone from our class be here this time?"
Ding Jiao casually replied, "They should all be here..." Then, realizing what he meant, he wiped his mouth and said, "You mean those guys?"
Chen Chuan hummed in agreement. Their class usually had thirty-nine students, but the roster actually listed forty-two.
These three extra students rarely attended school because they had private tutors. The reason they were registered at City First High was that the school had a quota to recommend students to prestigious academies in Central City each year, and these spots were reserved for them.
They had been set apart from ordinary students from the very beginning, and this had been the case in Yangzhi City's middle schools for decades, so no one thought anything was amiss.
"By the way," Ding Jiao said, winking and nudging Chen Chuan, "since you're here today, your... she might show up too."
Chen Chuan shook his head. "I have nothing to do with her." He knew who Ding Jiao was referring to, but even though his previous self had some connection with her, it wasn't the kind of relationship that outsiders imagined.
Ding Jiao gave him a look of disbelief.
As the two of them chatted, their classmates gradually arrived, greeting each other and catching up on recent events. From time to time, someone would open a bottle of soda, clink it against others, and the atmosphere became lively.
Ding Jiao had already finished a bottle of soda and seemed to still be craving more. He took another bottle, opened it, and took a big gulp, drinking half the bottle in one go. "By the way, is Gao Ming coming today?"
Chen Chuan thought for a moment and said, "He's probably out of town and won't make it back in time."
Gao Ming was a classmate of theirs, but his mother and Gao Ming's mother were cousins. Not only were they classmates, but they were also considered relatives, and they got along very well.
The Gao family had a background in litigation, and Gao Ming had been scouted by a senior litigator at a young age. He had started learning from this mentor in middle school and after graduation, he continued to study under the same senior litigator, making him one of the few with a clear career path early on.
Ding Jiao let out an 'oh' and then whispered, "You know, Guan Xiaohui from Class 3, I heard her dad owes a huge gambling debt, and he offered her to the gang. Her stepmother ran away with her sister, and now the gang is harassing them every day. She had to hide at her relative's place in the countryside. What a mess."
Chen Chuan recalled a girl with a gentle smile and a shy personality. Ding Jiao seemed to have had a crush on her once, but what left a deeper impression on Chen Chuan was that this girl had also practiced martial arts.
As Ding Jiao was speaking, he suddenly glanced to the side and slapped the table, calling out, "Hey, over there! Han Laosan! He's all dressed up now that he's in Mo Lan Corporation. I heard his dad in the Water Supply Bureau pulled some strings for him."
Chen Chuan turned to look and saw a boy walking towards them, his hair parted in the middle and dressed in a black imported suit. He looked passable, but he walked and talked with an air of pretension.
Several classmates surrounded him, and although they weren't from the same class, they were clearly trying to curry favor with the boy. When the students under the canopy saw him, some of them immediately stood up and approached him, asking for his contact information.
The boy seemed to relish this adoration, lingering outside for about ten minutes before being escorted inside. As he walked, he waved to the students sitting there and said, "Sorry, sorry, everyone. I'm late. I was held up by some company matters."
Ding Jiao said with a hint of sarcasm, "Look at him, acting all high and mighty, and he's not even an official employee of Mo Lan. He's just in training."
From his previous life's memories, Chen Chuan knew this boy was called Han Shu. His grades were always overshadowed by Chen Chuan's previous self and another girl, so Ding Jiao jokingly called him Han Laosan, meaning 'third place'.
Perhaps due to their personalities, Han Shu, Ding Jiao, and Chen Chuan's previous self never got along well in school, and their relationship as classmates was strained.
At this moment, Han Shu also noticed Chen Chuan and Ding Jiao. He paused briefly, hiked up his sleeves to reveal a silver-cased watch on his wrist, and then walked towards them.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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